Read Online Bayou Corruption by Robin Caroll - Free Book Online

chance and tell you what I know. Bubba’d been investigating a case, something just starting up, and he’d gotten stonewalled. He called me to come see what I could uncover. That’s the reason I’m here in town.”
    A wave of excitement surged within her. “What kind of case?”
    His gaze locked onto her eyes, as if reading her intentions.
    She sighed. “Look, you asked me to help, you trusted me enough to tell me what you already have. Just spill it.”
    â€œBubba found a couple of money drops in the bayou.”
    â€œWhat, exactly, does that mean?”
    â€œA bag of money, sealed in a plastic bag, is tied to a small buoy. Someone drops the money into the water, normally from a plane flying under radar. The pick-up person comes by later and grabs the bag.”
    â€œIsn’t that normally done in drug trafficking?”
    â€œYes.” He pulled the lid from his cup and crunched on ice.
    â€œHard to believe drug deals would be happening in Lagniappe.”
    â€œThe town does have a lot of voodoo, which oft times involves drugs.”
    She sucked in air through her teeth and tried to evoke the memories she’d suppressed for so many years. Her grandmother had never condoned use of any drugs in any of her ceremonies or rites, as far as she knew. “Drugs aren’t always involved in voodoo stuff.”
    â€œNo, not always. Something else you have to remember—the intercoastal ports are only ten or so miles away. Easy access to move the drugs, which would make the money drops in the bayou logical.”
    Alyssa tapped a finger against her chin, rolling ideas around in her mind. “We pretty much can figure the shipments are going out of the intercoastal port.” This could be a great story. Something big enough that Simon wouldn’t consider the subject local and of no interest to the rest of the state—something that would mean her time here wasn’t a total waste. Alyssa tried to mask her excitement by forcing her voice to remain even. “What did the sheriff discover in his investigation?”
    â€œBubba tried running some leads, but each way he went, he hit a dead end.”
    Alyssa thought of all the articles she’d studied and assisted in researching. Oh, yeah, this could be huge. “To have the power to stop a police investigation normally means someone of importance is involved.”
    â€œRight. That’s exactly what Bubba thought, which is why he called me and asked me to help. I’ve been doing a little undercover investigation.”
    She didn’t like the gleam in his eye, screaming trouble. “What?”
    â€œI’m doing some temporary grunt work down at the intercoastal port.”
    If he exposed where the drugs were going, he’d put himself right in the line of fire. Wait a minute. Why did she care? She shouldn’t, but the thought of him in danger…
    â€œI don’t think that’s such a good idea. I mean, it could be months before you find out something useful.”
    â€œNot if I’m determined to snoop, as I am.” The cockiness in his tone left no argument.
    â€œWhat if you’re exposed?”
    â€œ Chère, Bubba set me up with someone already working on the dock who hadn’t a clue about any drug smuggling but was all too happy to help out. The night foreman, Burl, has already tried me out.” He smiled that easygoing, disarming smile of his. “Don’t worry, I’m good at digging out the truth.”
    She stared hard at him as another thought slammed her—she hadn’t a clue what Jackson did for a living and why the sheriff would be inclined to call him for help on a case. “Are you in law enforcement?”
    He chuckled. “Not hardly. I’m a reporter.”
    New Orleans. Reporter.
    Why hadn’t she trusted her gut instinct about not liking him? Why hadn’t she made the time to Google him as she’d intended? Her